From December 11, 1929 — and for nearly eighty years — the New York Genealogical and Biographical society was headquartered at 122-126 East 58th Street, in a landmarked building designed by LaFarge, Warren and Clark.  By 2008, the building was showing its age and — when the NYB&B combined their collection with the New York Public Library — the decision was made to sell the facility and move closer to the NYPL main building.  The NYG&B purchased 3,000 square feet of raw office space in the historic Bar Building on 44th Street (across from the Harvard Club).  I was asked to design a new permanent headquarters for the NYG&B that would provide research areas, offices and a large conference/reception room in an historical idiom similar to their original headquarters.

         I presented designs to the Trustees which showcased a series of “historic” rooms — arranged in a classical enfilade — leading from an Entry Hall, through a small Library to a large Conference Room at the terminus of the space.  Two small executive offices, a bathroom, a service kitchen and a more modern “open-plan” research areas opened off of these spaces.  We managed to salvage original — and irreplaceable — solid oak library tables and chairs. The finishes were based on 1930s Federalist-style details and the cork flooring was designed to imitate the cork flooring in the original building.  We hired Peter Pennoyer and Associates to produce the working drawings and help with the project management.   We had a particularly fruitful working relationship and managed to complete the project in nine months and under budget.